Tag: Gurgaon Food

Takamaka, is one of the newest and hottest party place in Gurgaon that serves amazing food and drinks and has a great line up for live events too. Spread across 3 floors, its a concept club depicting a cruise like ambience, with the floors in true sense representing different decks, the wooden flooring, the iron rails and water tubes and many other elements that bring the cruise alive. The centrally located huge bar is definitely a highlight and they also have a small stage set-up for live performances, in one corner.

Now coming to food, the first thing that I would want to highlight is that they surely serve one of the finest mutton, I mean all their mutton dishes were outstanding. The quality of mutton used speaks for itself. So I’ll start with the mutton dishes first, we tasted Takamaka Barrah Kebab, Mutton Takatak and Dum Pukht’s Galouti Kebab and all these dishes are a must try, you cant afford to miss them. The Barrah was so soft and tender that the mutton was easily leaving the bone and wasn’t stretchy at all. The spices were perfect and it tasted awesome. Mutton Takatak, a boneless mutton preparation in thick tawa gravy was another delightful dish and once again the mutton pieces were extremely tender. The Galoutis were unmatchable, they were so soft that they just melted in the mouth, served with ulte tawa ke parantha and on a glass of beer shot to enhance the flavours, this dish was one of their best.

Takamaka Murg Malai Tikka, Cheese Cigar Rolls, Dahi Ki Nazakat, Butter & Garlic Prawns & Chilly Chicken Drumsticks were the other set of starters we tried and again each of them was good, but for me the Murg Malai Tikka and Dahi Ki Nazakat aka Dahi Kebabs were the best. The chicken was so creamy and tender and so were the dahi ke kebab. The cheese cigar rolls is also something one should try, not because the cheese rolls are very different, but because they are served with three different dips which are superb, especially the beetroot one.

Coming to the main course, we settled for the regular dishes, we tried Choti Murgi Makkhan Wali, Dal Makhani, Mixed Vegetable and Dhaba Gosht. Here once again all three dishes were good and once more I have to mention that their mutton dishes are simply awesome. We also tried some Murg Biryani which too was delectable.

They have a wide variety of drinks and their bar menu is an elaborate one, a 16 pager to be precise. We tried a few mocktails, like Sunset Cooler, Lemon Cucumber, Blue Raspberry Slush, Green Apple Slush and Mojito, and I personally liked Blue Raspberry Slush and Lemon Cucumber the best.

As for me, I know I am going back to this place soon as I thoroughly enjoyed myself, what about you..?? Do let me know your experience by commenting here, whenever you visit Takamaka.. cheers !

Naval life has always held my keen interest but somehow I have never been able to experience the same closely. As a child also the big ships, the coal engines, the big metal pipes and propellers have intrigued me a lot and even now when I watch such movies I wish I could for once see a ship closely enough, not just for traveling and luxury, but the working of a ship.

That may or may not happen, but visiting a restaurant which is based on the naval theme is something that I could achieve and hence Dockyard was on my list since long. Recently I got a chance of visiting this amazing place, that not only has interesting ambience and interiors but also serves lip smacking food and some amazing variety of cocktails and mocktails. It also houses a microbrewery and hence serves fresh beers as well.

The ambience is bold and has a very rustic appeal to it. Big dockyard type lights, the raw looking furniture and a huge screen behind the bar that stands out completely.

For drinks I tried Melon Vs Ginger and then Wild Herb Guava, both of them were nice and refreshing. I personally loved the Guava one more, Nashila Nariyal which a friend of mine ordered attracted me because of its sheer presentation and a sip of same ensured its great taste as well. When it comes to mocktails I judge a place lot of times by its ability to pull of a great Mojito because sometimes simple things aren’t done perfectly, but at Dockyard the Mojito was awesome. Calling Hey You and Pan Bahar were some other cocktails that were amazing. Though I found the Pan Bahar a bit strong, it was appreciated by a lot of people.

Chakhna Sampler to go with drinks is a must have.

Lebanese Delight, a two way humus served with Pita Bread, this was a good beginning into the food world.

Veg Bruschetta, Afgani Paneer Tikka and Vada Pav Sliders were amazing. The Bruschetta had different toppings and I loved the corn topping the most. Paneer Tikka was soft and a mouth melting experience. The Vada Pav Sliders looked so drool worthy that I could not ignore them, they tasted equally well.

Next I tried Methi Malai Murg Tikka, presented on a skewer, it looked awesome and the taste was delectable. Korean Barbecued Chicken and Wasabi Prawns are a must try, they were both each better than the other.

Mandarin Chicken Pizza was really nice, crispy thin crust with amazing chicken topping. Chicken Satay and Naram Garam were also served, the Chicken Satay was tender and juicy, normally I find the satays to be quite dry, thankfully this was different. Naram Garam was a deep fried sphere with soft and creamy filling inside. It was really yummy.

Coming to desserts I tried Crispy Fried Ice-Cream and Tiramisu. The Fried Ice Cream was a pure delight and I loved it, Tiramisu has always been my favourite and indulging in this one was as amazing.

My overall experience at Dockyard was very fulfilling and I highly recommend it. You must visit it soon.

Cafe Gatherings is a cosy little join tucked away in the Super Mart 1 of DLF Phase IV, Gurgaon. Space is a constrain at this place, but for a small group or a cosy couple outing, its just perfect. I recently visited this place and found it really amusing.

For me its a small intimate Dine-in Eatery.
Though short on seating capacity the place exudes great warmth and cosy ambience giving you a very comfortable feel and the food too is great.
We started with the Peri Peri Chicken which was really done to perfection with the right blend of spices.

The Fish Fingers was another delicacy well done, crisp on the out and really soft inside, really a mouthwatering dish.

The Chicken Morsels as the name suggests were just that very lovingly done by the chef. Real juicy morsels of chicken with a very distinctive taste.

Pasta Arabiatta and Spanish Cannelloni were the pick of the dishes. Truly Delectable!!!!! I mean the taste of the Spanish Cannelloni still lingers in my mouth, it was so good.

For the mains we tried the Thai Curry & Rice, another delicious preparation perfectly done.

I enjoyed myself thoroughly at Cafe Gatherings and you must give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.
Truly a great gastronomic experience.

Boombox Brewstreet located in the hustling bustling market of sector 29, Gurgaon is definitely your next go to bar and casual dining space. Music is in the air, on the walls and everywhere here, because that is the central theme of this lively place. The place opened some 4-5 months back and then temporarily shut for renovation and now its back with a bang. I was recently invited by Mukul Verma, co-owner of the place for a wonderful food tasting session.

My foodie experience began by a mind blowing gastronomic Amuse Bouche, which was melt in a mouth version of our traditional dahi bhallas, served like a dollop of curd on spoons emitting smoke, it was sheer delight to watch it.

Something is Fishy and Yeh Reshmi Zulfein were served first. Something is Fishy was a tangy and lemony fish tikka and served with big chunks of aloo chaat, which gave it a real twist and a pleasant one indeed. I loved it. Yeh Reshmi Zulfien was a nicely done Reshmi Chicken Tikka marinated with creamy pesto sauce and tandoori mayo, I loved it.

Up next were the Chemical Brothers, a trio of Jhalmuri, which had one original style, one fennel flavoured and one achari, well Jhalmuri has never been something that I am keen for and hence I did taste, but didn’t like it much. I find the flavours of oil too strong for my liking.

Aye Mere Pyaare Mutton, Punjab Se Lekar Delhi Via Spain and Mr. Gulati Kebab were served next. Aye Mere Pyaare Mutton was a sure shot winner for me, tender and saucy meat balls served with cucumber and basil yogurt and tomato chutney. This is not to be missed. Mr. Gulati Kebab, served with chutney droppers and mini paranthas were delectable too, the kebabs were really soft and delicious. Punjab Se Lekar Delhi Via Spain was also an interesting dish, where Rajma Chawal were fried like a croquette in Amritsari Papad Crust.

Teri Meri Kahani, Kool-Cha and Main Toh Raste Se Jaa Raha The found space on our tables next. Teri Mere Kahani was an interesting version of Caesar Salad with Vegetable Croquette, it was really nice. Kool-Cha was an amazing take on a stuffed kulcha with a tasteful filling of Chettinad mushrooms, I really loved the taste of it. Main Toh Rasta Se Jaa Raha Tha was Boombox way of presenting Dahi Puris, they were nice and tangy, but one should have them immediately because they tend to turn soggy sooner than you imagine.

Hothon Pe Bas Tera Naam Hai, PB&J and Imly Ka Buta Berry Ka Pulao were the final dishes served, Chicken Tikka done the Chettinad way with some molecular gastronomy on display with coconut bubbles is what made Hothon Pe Bas Tera Naam Hai. A Parsi influenced dish, Imly Ka Buta Berry Ka Pulao was basically rice cakes with pulled khatu meethu chicken and tasted really well. PB&J was also an interesting concept of bread spheres with paneer filling, fried like pakodas with salli crust and served with a berry jam, no.. the jam wasn’t sweet, it was salty and spicy and delicious.

This brought our culinary journey to.. no not an end, but a break, which was followed by desserts to finally bring it to an end. There was I Love My India, Rabdi & Boondi Cheesecake with Kiwi and Blueberry, I really loved this one and got inspired to try making it at home(you know I am a baker and a cook who loves to experiment with food..isnt it). The other dessert was called Khaike Paan Italy Wala, a paan flavoured Tiramisu. I did taste it and it was nice, but I basically don’t enjoy paan flavoured desserts so didn’t have much of it.

Overall I loved my experience at Boombox, the ambience, the food, the presentation of food and the molecular gastronomy was really commendable. Even the drinks were amazing, I tried the Orange Mojito and Slushy Margarita, my son tried the Oreo Shake and all the drinks were superlative.

I highly recommend visiting this place where you can enjoy some great music, quirkiness and amazing food that looks equally interesting.

I have eaten alone a lot of times when I am traveling and enjoyed my own company, but being in my own city, this kind of an occasion is very rare. Recently I experienced enjoying some good food, great live music and perfect ambience, all by myself, and this was a place which now tops my list of favorites, it was Factory by Sutra at Sector 29, Gurgaon.

I chose the balcony area to be seated, with cool breeze and some amazing sufi songs playing in the background, this appeared to be the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed evening. My foodie experience began with tasting from the Chandni Chowk Section of the menu. Delhi 6, which were golgappas stuffed with bhel, topped with aaloo tikki and chutney and some Kurkuri Bhindi Nachos, which was crispy fried masala bhindi served with some mint yogurt. Chef Abhinav, who is the man behind all tasteful food that Factory has to offer, suggested both the dishes and I loved them. The Golgappas were nice and tangy and the fried bhindi was just too good. The way bhindi was fried and the spices along with chopped onions and tomatoes, took my experience to the next level, it gave me an instant idea of what I am gonna serve my guests next when they turn up at my house. This is a must try, from a boring vegetable to an interesting snack, its totally worth it.

Leaving myself in safe hands of Chef Abhinav, I relied on him for my next set of appetizers. This time chef suggested Crispy Calamari and Lemon Garlic Fish from the Little Munchies Section. Personally I am not very fond of Calamari, but this was good, perfectly fried and spiced, but the show stealer was the Lemon Garlic Fish. It was truly amazing; I polished off a full fillet in minutes. The taste of garlic, the freshness of lemon grass and the tender fish, made it completely drool worthy. The best thing I loved about it was that the lemon grass didn’t over power the taste; normally lemon grass is put in such a way that after two bites, you start feeling as if you are eating an aroma candle, but this one was just perfect. I highly recommend trying this one out, you will love it. I enjoyed my set of starters with a refreshing Mojito.

As I prepared myself to explore the culinary delights from the main course, a live sufi performance also began in the lounge area. The night looked much more vibrant now.

For main course, chef delighted me with Butter Chicken Khichri, Lahori Mutton Curry and Khamiri Roti. I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely dinner plate of mine, as the band played one of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s creation. The butter chicken khichri was something I have never tried and is hugely recommended. The Lahori Mutton Curry was simple but flavorsome; I relished it with the khamiri rotis, chutney and onions.

The best thing about Factory and Chef Abhinav’s preparations is that, they are simple and very very flavorsome. The menu isn’t very elaborate, but has all the basics and best dishes from across the cuisines. Factory not only offers great food, but is a brewery, co-working space and boasts of different genres of live music most days of the week. This place is definitely worth a visit.

For dessert I had a choco lava cake and it was delicious.

I am looking forward to visit Factory again, and this time with my family. I got a couple of things packed back for my family, the non-veg platter was simply amazing, it has chicken tikka, seekh kebab and fish. I also brought back Chilly Chicken Pita Bao, and I loved it. It was spicy and juicy; it’s a perfect snack to just grab on the go.

Drop in to Factory and I am sure you will love it as much as I did. Also follow their page on Facebook for latest updates on their events.

Bringing in the essence of playboy bunny embellishments and its vibe in your everyday bar and café is how Playboy Café has been thought through. After successfully launching Playboy Club, Hyderabad and Playboy Beer Garden in Pune, PB has now expanded its wings to North India with its first outlet in Gurgaon Sector 53. Quirky interiors with walls adorning Playboy posters, a world class bar, with a huge seating area spread across 3 floors, Playboy Café is nothing short of being a feather in Gurgaon’s Food & Night Life Cap.

I recently visited the place for a specially curated event for food bloggers organized by Foodmaniacs (Vickhram Vicky).

I loved the ambience and vibes of the place right from the time when I set my foot in. I was welcomed by one of the most fascinating drinks, Playboy Vodka Chai, which is Tea mixed with Vodka, fresh Mint, Cranberry Juice, Orange Juice and Honey. I loved both the presentation and taste of this drink. It should definitely be tried.

In starters we had Nachos Topped with Garbanzo and Blue Cheese Yogurt Kababs, to begin with. The Nachos were nice and loaded with beans, feta and pomegranate seeds. I personally didn’t like the Blue Cheese Yogurt Kababs much, as one I found them to be on the sweeter side.

Up next were Fritto Misto and Cajun Fish Tikka. Fritto Misto was a sea food platter consisting of Squid, Prawns and Fish dusted in Chef’s special flour served with sweet chilli sauce and garlic aioli. I loved this platter, the fish, the prawns and the squid were fried to perfection, were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The Cajun tikka too was perfectly spiced and roasted; I simply adored this dish and highly recommend it.

For drinks I tried the Playboy LIIT, mother of all liits, it had 11 spirits juiced up, and the presentation was killer. It came in a big red telephone booth and looked awesome.

Next we tried Green Eggs Benedict, a signature Playboy preparation, and Pudina Lamb. Poached eggs on a steamed bun with cheese and creamy green colour is what comprised of this signature dish. The taste was mild, as one cut through the half boiled eggs and the yolk oozes out with cheese and softens the bun, it becomes one mouth melting experience. Though the dish was good, but I was not able to place it well as an appetizer, for me it will be heavenly if served for breakfast, but nevertheless, one should try, its different.

The Pudina Lamb tasted good and was nicely spiced, but the lam could have been tenderer, it was slightly stretchy. I am sure the chef will take my feedback in a constructive way and there wont be an issue next time around.

We also tried Keema Ghotala, Southern Style Mushrooms, Cheese & Green Peas Maggi, Chicken Sumai, Thai Rice & Chicken Dumpling and American Poutine. Keema Ghotala is Playboy’s version of Keema Pao and is a must try. Southern Style Mushrooms were good too, crispy and tasteful. You can give Cheese and Green Peas Maggi a skip, because somethings are better without experiments, American Poutine was a little put off, as the fries had dollops of wine sauce which was too sweet and it killed the taste of fries. Order fries without the sauce and you will be better off. Chicken Sumai and Thai Rice & Chicken Dumplings were definitely the show stealers, they not only looked good, but tasted yumm too, do try them out and thank me later!

Though I was already full with the starters, but yet excited to try the main course. So together as a group of foodies, we ordered Grilled Fish, Chicken Duo and Spaghetti Bolognese. The grilled fish on a bed on rice was totally a scrumptious indulgence. The chicken duo was worth ordering too, you should definitely try it. Spaghetti was the only weak link, it wasn’t bad, but could have been a little better.

Now coming to desserts, we tried the Tiramisu, which was simply mind blowing, creamy coffee taste, and a sinful indulgence that’s totally worth every bite. Then there was a Red Velvet Jar, which too was amazing.We also tried Chocolate Decadence and all I can say is that it’s a must try for all chocolate lovers. You will fall in love with it, at least I did, so much that I got so engrossed in relishing it that I even missed out on taking its picture, but the indulgence was a bliss. Never mind the pic. Do remember me when you try it, and come back and thank me for sharing it with you all J

All in all this Rabbit is worth catching, so please head straight to Playboy and just sit back, relax and enjoy great food and drinks. They have a fully loaded bar which is meant to be explored, and the bar tenders there come up with some breathtaking tricks that you will have fun watching.. so enjoy!

I had great fun with my foodie friends and I am sure you will love it too.

I recently visited Warehouse Café in Sector 29, Gurgaon, with some foodie friends. Though the place has been there for sometime now, I really didn’t get a chance to explore it. But now when I finally did, I am a little disappointed that why didn’t I do earlier and also glad that I finally did. The ambience of the place is very warm and chilled out. One can just hang in there with family or friends and enjoy great food.

My foodie experience began with Corn Cheese Rolls and Water Melon Cooler, and I must say that the beginning was very exciting. The corn cheese rolls were delectable and I loved the crispiness outside and mouth-melting corn and cheese on the inside. The watermelon cooler was refreshing.

Up next was Chipotle Paneer Tikka, a paneer tikka with a twist. The use of chipotle spices suited well with the paneer, and I loved the small dollop of salsa on the top of tikka, it made it taste a bit tangy but interesting.

Next we tried the Mumbai Pao and Keema Pao. Somehow the basic vada pao never gels well with me; I still feel that its best-found in streets of Mumbai, but the keema pao was very good. The keema was done to perfection, full of taste and flavours. This is definitely a must try on the menu.

Next was Murg Malai Tikka, a creamy and mildly spiced chicken preparation that is always my personal favourite. This too should find a place on your plate and you wont regret it one moment.

Lamb Kibbe was the next dish that I savored and loved instantly. It was a slightly denser version of a regular shammi kebab but something all meat lovers will appreciate.

The clear winner from all starters for me was Dahi Ke Kabab, because they tasted exceptionally well and I have never liked them in the past and that made all the more reason for me to relish these ones. Initially I was even apprehensive to taste, but one bite into it and I was mind blown. This is one dish I am going back for very soon.

There was another dish, which was a new addition to the menu; it was Buttermilk and Tonic Water Infused Crumbed Chicken. A beautiful fried chicken dish, I am sure it will find its place with a lot of people.

By the time, we finished the starters I was too full and main course didn’t really bother me. My friends ordered a selected few dishes and their aroma forced me to try them as well. I started by tasting some Chicken Noodles with Chicken in Black Bean Sauce because I simply can’t resist myself from eating Chinese Food; the aroma just takes over me completely. I also tried Rara Mutton, Paneer Lababdar and Dal Makhani( ok, I now I said my tummy was full, but I also said that I could not resist the aromas, so I tried all of this from my son’s plate). The mutton was tender, juicy and scrumptious, dal was rich and flavorsome, and also as per my son, who is an expert in Dal Makhani, this one certainly got a generous 4.5/5 star rating. I personally loved the paneer lababdar, it was just too good. Rick thick gravy, this is a delight for vegetarians and I am sure all non-vegetarians will love it equally, just like I did.

For drinks I further tried two flavours of Banta, Jaljeera Nimbu Pani and Narangi Anar and both were great.

To bring a fantastic afternoon to end, brownie with ice cream was served and it really made my day. Fudgy and gooey brownie with hot chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream can never fail as a dessert.

I loved my overall experience at Warehouse Café and I really look forward to going there again with my entire family.

Tandoori Knockouts, an amazing take away tucked in the Super Mart, DLF Phase 4, Gurgaon is bliss for anyone who loves Tandoori Preparations. I recently along with some foodie friends tried a few of their dishes and the experience turned out to be a really good one.

The dishes I tried were:

Chicken Tandoori Momos: These have become a rage now, but very few places are able to deliver the authentic tandoori taste, I am glad TKs did it quite well. The flavours were perfect and I can gorge on them anytime of the day.

Chicken Afgani Momos: They seem little subtle especially if you try them after the tandoori momos, because of the spice quotient. But those who prefer mild taste and wanna go for a melt in the mouth experience, definitely should try these Afgani momos.

Veg Tandoori Momos: They were as perfectly done as their non-veg counter part. The spices and the flavours were awesome. Those who are vegetarians can enjoy authentic tandoori taste without any compromises. In spite of being a har core non-vegetarian, I loved them.

Veg Afgani Momos: Yummy and delectable, a perfect delight for those who love mild tastes and are vegetarian.

Chicken Tikka: Nicely roasted with tandoori spices, this one was surely a winner. I just loved them. Soft and tender chicken, done to perfection, this is a must try from the menu.

Soya Malai Chaap: I am very fond of soya chaps, but I have to say that as compared to other dishes, this didn’t sit too well with me. I found it to be a little dry, there could have been a little more masala to it and I am sure Tandoori Knockouts will take my suggestion in a positive manner.

Paneer Tikka: I very rarely find the paneer tikka made well, because normally the masala is not coated too well, which after a couple of bites, make the paneer tikka taste bland, but at TKs, the masala was very well coated and made the entire paneer tikka carry the taste. Also the veggies along with it were well coated and tasted equally good.

Paneer Malai Tikka: This one really melted in my mouth, I loved the flavours and texture of this one. It was very soft, mild and yet flavourful. This one was one delectable experience and must be tried.

Also the other thing that I loved about Tandoori Knockouts was their quantity and sizes of each item. I mean whether the momos or the tikkas, the sizes were huge and quantity enough to fill one person completely. The pricing is also very very reasonable and I am sure this will make Tandoori Knockouts your favourite for those evening snacks, quick dinners and just like that foodie experiences. Do try them out.

This blog is a reflection of my personality. I share various experiences that life throws at me so come and be part of my journey called life, know about the places I travel, the food I eat, the books I read, or the events I attend. Get some tips related to health, beauty, fashion, parenting and a general lifestyle. There is something for everyone and I promise to keep it realistic and interesting every time.

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